Aavin to reintroduce ‘button paal’ system of selling milk through vending machine, Madras High Court told

Tamil Nadu Cooperative Milk Producers Federation Limited (TNCMPFL) has informed the Madras High Court that it has decided to revive the distribution of Aavin brand milk through Automated Vending Machines (AVMs), which were once popularly known as ‘button paal’ until they were shut down completely in 2014.

In a status report submitted to the Special Bench of Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, TNCMPFL Managing Director Ajay Yadav said that the malls will be set up at Kodaikanal in Dindigul district and Udhagamandalam (Ooty) in Nilgiris district on a pilot basis to assess customer reception.

The decision was made after the hearing in the Supreme Court. Friends T. Mohan, Chevanan Mohan, Rahul Balaji and M. Santhanaraman pointed out the environmental hazards caused by plastic bags in which Aavin milk was distributed across the state after the closure of all shopping malls in October 2014.

Friends He told the court that shopping malls in the state were established in the 1970s, but were completely closed in 2014 following complaints that the milk sold in the machines was adulterated. Advocates suggested repurposing shopping malls for the benefit of the environment, ensuring zero adulteration.

As a pilot in Kodaikanal, Ooty

When the jury found strength in the application and directed TNCMPFL to come up with a pilot project, the federation decided to implement it first in Kodaikanal and Udhagamandalam. An order has also been given to a private company based in Uttar Pradesh for the supply of two malls costing ₹3.6 lakh each.

TNCMPFL said that it has identified two locations as per the court order to set up and operate shopping malls in densely populated areas and stop distributing milk in plastic bags in surrounding areas.

Mr. Yadav said that one of the two malls will be set up at Aavin hi-tech hall in Poet Thiagarajar Salai in Kodaikanal and necessary approvals will be obtained from the Dindigul Collector as well as the Milk Production and Dairy Development Commissioner in Chennai.

The official said, “In addition, meetings were held with wholesale dealers, sub-agencies and sellers and necessary instructions were given. Particular instructions were given not to give milk bags to the doors of consumers, institutions and hotels within the designated activity area of ​​the shopping mall.”

Similarly, the second mall will be set up in an open space allocated by the Nilgiris Collector adjacent to Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers’ market) at Charing Cross, where arrangements have been made for purchasing milk through digital payment facilities such as UPI-enabled banking system, he said.

The report stated, “Immediately after the machine is put into operation, the supply of milk bags from the designated retail outlet within the designated activity area will be stopped and a wide awareness will be created in the public through the press and social media in order to encourage consumers to use the shopping mall.” It was said.

The statement continued: “Following the commissioning of the shopping malls, the participating federation will require a reasonable period of time to monitor the performance of the shopping malls, evaluate public response and acceptance, evaluate operational and maintenance-related issues, and review general feasibility, applicability and sustainability.”